However, the laptop's smaller design required a few more design compromises. For instance, the 8GB of soldered RAM is the only option; unlike the 15-inch model, there doesn't appear to be room on the logic board to solder on an additional 8GB. There's no discrete graphics chip, either. We'll definitely look into the performance more once we have a sample to review, but we suspect these limitations could push some potential users up to the 15-inch model.

Enlarge/ The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro apparently has no room for a discrete GPU or more than 8GB of RAM.

The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro uses an asymmetrical lithium-ion cell configuration for its battery. Two of the cells are easily removed with screws, though the remaining four are glued to the aluminum unibody shell, just like the 15-inch model. iFixit's Miro Djuric told Ars that the adhesive does seem slightly easier to work with in comparison to the strong adhesive on the 15-inch model.

In an interesting move, the battery on the 13-inch machine is not glued over the trackpad assembly, which makes it fairly easy to access and replace. Instead, Apple tucked the SSD module underneath the trackpad, connecting to the logic board with a ribbon cable.

Enlarge/ There's plenty of room underneath the trackpad for a much larger SSD module.

However, the space underneath the trackpad is large enough to hold a slim 2.5-inch form factor drive. Djuric noted that a 9.5mm SSD didn't quit fit, but "only by a smidge." A 7mm or 5mm drive could fit, though it would require a custom cable to connect to the logic board's SATA port. Still, such a solution may offer potentially less expensive SSD replacements.

Unsurprisingly, iFixit gave the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro a 2/10 score for repairability. The drive module and trackpad are easier to replace, and the battery is "slightly" easier to work with, giving it a one point advantage over the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro. However, everything is tucked inside with Apple's pentalobe screws, RAM is impossible to upgrade or replace, and the fused Retina display module is a pricey, integrated unit.

89 Reader Comments

Interesting debate over the power and potential uses of this MBP. To me this one is a "retina MBA," not MBP. I know they are calling it a Pro but the light weight, integrated graphics, and non-upgradeable construction make me think of it as another MBA.

FYI, 13" MBP have had integrated graphics since 2011 and mine works just fine for most tasks short of editing high resolution graphics and gaming, something I use a MacPro for.

You may also note 13" MBP is Apple's best selling PC.

I agree 8GB is a bit limiting and suspect we will see a 16GB option in 2013 once the memory chips are available in volume and the price comes down, but at this point, it would be an expensive option that would not appeal to many average users so that probably explains the lack of this now.

This is the first time they used two smaller fans in the 13" afaik, I wonder how that will affect noise. And they aren't cooling two components, they are both for the CPU, so I suppose they will both run at the same speed at all times, there would be no point not to. So from that assumption I guess that also means lower RPM for both of them since they only need to move half the air.

This model uses the asymmetric blade fans, and with 2 fans using smaller rotors, should be much quieter.

I agree 8GB is a bit limiting and suspect we will see a 16GB option in 2013 once the memory chips are available in volume and the price comes down, but at this point, it would be an expensive option that would not appeal to many average users so that probably explains the lack of this now.

Maybe, Apple is pretty stingy with model updates, even for simple things like RAM and Hard drive upgrades. Usually they wait for a whole new version before they upgrade anything.

"But this is a HORRIBLE example. If you plan on running 3VMs plus the host OS, then DON'T BUY A FREAKIN' LIGHTWEIGHT LAPTOP."

Again, Apple already has a "FREAKIN' LIGHTWEIGHT LAPTOP"....it's called the MacBook Air.

All I'm asking is for more scalability (does 16GB impose too much on the form factor)?

I agree—aside from the Retina display and slightly faster CPU, this offers little advantage over the 13" Air. There's no discrete GPU, and no quad-core processor options. Looking at the 256GB drive option, too, which costs $1999, and now you're only $200 away from the low-end 15" rMBP, which has a larger screen, discrete GPU, and quad-core processor.

Well the retina display is the big deal about this one. Apple wants to make it standard but can't yet fit it in an Air. I am not sure why they're keeping the non-retina MBPs at this point - the Apple product lineup has not been this messy since Jobs came back in 1997.

And I am pretty happy with 16GB RAM in my retina MBP thankyouverymuch. "then don't buy a laptop" is one of the stranger statements that I've heard. Why not? I like laptops. I like running 3 - or 5 - VMs. I like it even more if I can run them on my 2kg quad core computer while in the Cafe. Don't tell people what they want to do... it's a MacBook PRO, and pros sometimes need more CPU, GPU and RAM than casual users.

More moving in the direction of a computer as a whole becoming a disposable commodity item in and of itself. With a hefty disposable fee attached.

What? Laptops have been "disposable" by your definition since they were invented. The vast majority of people, and by that I mean probably around 99% of all PC owners, never upgrade their PC either.

Even for geeks like myself upgrading a PC is a bit like hot-rodding a car - it's a fun hobby but it's certainly not necessary. Most of the time when I've upgraded my computers, I could either have just lived with the older, slower system for a while longer - but that would have been boring, obviously - or bought a new one.

Anyway - laptops have never been upgradeable in a significant way. I've had my last Apple laptop for 3 years - less disposable than any laptop before it, I used to be on a 1 year to 2 year upgrade cycle. And this one's now going to my brother who is going to use it for probably at least another 2 years. Not bad for a computer. And a lot of this is thanks to Apple's unibody design that makes these things bullet proof. Apple is in fact the only PC maker that cares about the longevity of its products at this point.

The type of integration Apple does makes products more simple and robust, and less likely to need repair.

I'm all for repairing and reusing what has broken, but not breaking in the first place is ultimately better, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than mail ordering over-priced parts from iFixit, so it's hard to take their 2/10 rating seriously.

With respect to Apple's integration making for more robust products, I'm with you to a point but I don't buy that non-upgradeable RAM, custom form factor SSDs, and glued in batteries contribute to the product being more robust.

Fire up VMWare Fusion or Parallels with 3 VMs hosting a front-end/SQL environment, Domain Controller, and a desktop client then you can find out right now how limiting a mere 8GBs of RAM is instead of waiting 3 years.

From my POV, Apple screwed the pooch on this point. You may as well purchase a MacBook Air if you are fixated on thin design as opposed to having a machine that costs more, but for the purposes of testing and having more performance, will quickly become obsolete.

How many 13" laptops can upgrade past 8GB? The regular 13" is limited to 8GB too. And this has a SSD which helps a lot with lots of VMs.

Right now. RAM modules are 4GB. In a year or so, RAM modules will be 8GB --- and any laptop that has a 64bit processor, OS and standard ram slots will be able to install 16 GB of ram. And it likely wont cost much more than 8GB's costs right now.

WIth 16GB of RAM you could dedicate half of it to Swap/Cache and/or a RamDisk for apps that constantly write garbage to the disk -- e.g. A Browser.

8GB of soldered RAM is nothing short of limiting.

Maybe upgradeable laptops will become slightly less common, but they aren't going anywhere -- because there is a market for them. And if we've learned anything about Capitalism, where there is a demand there will be a market. Now perhaps upgradeable will become more expensive than disposable... that will still be an acceptable trade-off.